Senator Warns Obama Not to Implement UN Arms Treaty

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has warned President Obama not to implement the controversial UN Arms Treaty, which John Kerry is likely to sign today, without congressional authorization.

Image: The Knotted Gun.

The treaty – which critics have warned could lead to draconian gun control measures in the United States – is based around preventing illicit global weapons transfers to terrorists and other rogue agents, but its language could easily be interpreted to infringe on Second Amendment rights domestically.

Despite warnings from lawmakers that the agreement will be not ratified by the Senate, Secretary of State John Kerry is set to sign the UN treaty today, prompting Senator Corker to warn President Obama that any attempt to implement the measures without congressional consent “would be fundamentally inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution, law, and practice.”

“Because of the concerns discussed above, as well as the fundamental issues the ATT raises with respect to the individual rights protected by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, as the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, it is my view that you may not take any executive action to implement this treaty, provisionally or otherwise, unless and until: (1) the United States Senate has provided its constitutionally required advice and consent to its ratification; and (2) the Congress has passed any and all required legislation to bring this treaty into effect under United States domestic law,” writes Corker.

Despite 130 members of Congress writing a letter to Obama and Kerry back in May demanding they refuse to sign the treaty, Kerry is set to do so anyway, proving in the eyes of Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. that, “The administration is wasting precious time trying to sign away our laws to the global community and unelected U.N. bureaucrats.”

Earlier this year, the Senate already passed an amendment by 53-46 to “to uphold Second Amendment rights and prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty,” a vote that has been ignored by the White House.

Analysts who have studied the treaty warn that it effectively replaces constitutional rights, including the Second Amendment, with the UN Charter, supplanting God with global government as the source of all liberties.

According to John Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime, “The Arms Trade Treaty will regulate individual gun ownership all across the world. Each country will be obligated to “maintain a national control list that shall include [rifles and handguns]” and “to regulate brokering taking place under its jurisdiction for conventional arms.”

The treaty also bars “unauthorized” individuals from trading weapons, a vague term that could be applied to just about anyone.

Read Senator Corker’s full letter to Obama below.

Dear President Obama,

It is my understanding that Secretary of State John Kerry will sign the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on behalf of the United States. The ATT raises significant legislative and constitutional questions. Any act to implement this treaty, provisionally or otherwise, before the Congress provides its advice and consent would be inconsistent with the United States Constitution, law, and practice.

As you know, Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution requires the United States Senate to provide its advice and consent before a treaty becomes binding under United States law. The Senate has not yet provided its advice and consent, and may not provide such consent. As a result, the Executive Branch is not authorized to take any steps to implement the treaty.

Moreover, even after the Senate provides its advice and consent, certain treaties require changes to United States law in the form of legislation passed by both the House and Senate. The ATT is such a treaty. Various provisions of the ATT, including but not limited to those related to the regulation of imports and trade in conventional arms, require such implementing legislation and relate to matters exclusively reserved to Congress under our Constitution.

Because of the concerns discussed above, as well as the fundamental issues the ATT raises with respect to the individual rights protected by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, as the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, it is my view that you may not take any executive action to implement this treaty, provisionally or otherwise, unless and until: (1) the United States Senate has provided its constitutionally required advice and consent to its ratification; and (2) the Congress has passed any and all required legislation to bring this treaty into effect under United States domestic law.